LUCKNOW, July 3 -- Fifty-one primary school students from Sitapur have approached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court challenging the June 16 order of the state government for the merger of primary schools across the state of Uttar Pradesh. They approached the court through their guardian. A single-judge bench of Justice Pankaj Bhatia scheduled the hearing for July 3. The petition argues that the decision violates the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. It contends that the merger would result in primary schools being located farther away for young children, potentially leading them to miss out on their education. The petitioners laid emphasis on the fact that under the Right to Education Act, it is the Uttar Pradesh government's legal responsibility to provide primary education schools close to children. The state government will present its case through chief standing counsel Shailendra Kumar Singh. Senior advocate LP Mishra and Gaurav Mehrotra will represent the petitioners. HTC...